Don't Raise A Black Lotus Flower; Use The Emperor As A Substitute [Transmigration novel] - Chapter 18

Lin Ruoxuan was momentarily stunned and nearly laughed out loud, but he held it back for the sake of the child’s pride. In truth, after being well-fed for some time, Ji Ruxue’s little face had filled out. With his naturally fair complexion and bashful expression, he looked as pristine and white as the tangyuan in his bowl.

Watching his child grow up healthy, Lin Ruoxuan could not help but smile.

Ji Ruxue felt uncomfortable under his gaze and asked awkwardly, “What is it?”

While amused, Lin Ruoxuan found the child more adorable every time he looked at him. “Nothing, nothing. Your Highness is at the age where you should be growing; you need to eat more to grow tall and strong.”

Ji Ruxue seemed somewhat unconvinced. “I have already gained weight recently, and I will grow tall.”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness will grow tall.”

And so, one leaning against the headboard and the other sitting on the edge of the bed, they slowly finished their tangyuan. Warm sunset light filtered through the window frame, bathing the room in a soft, orange glow. The day had been chaotic, with archery lessons and a dog attack, but in this moment, there was a sense of peaceful tranquility.

Ji Ruxue finished his bowl and let out a tiny, involuntary hiccup. He froze, then glanced at Lin Ruoxuan.

Lin Ruoxuan stifled his laughter until his face went rigid, terrified of hurting the boy’s fragile ego. Just then, he remembered something important. “Your Highness, how is your leg? Do you need me to make another wheelchair?”

Ji Ruxue lowered his eyes, unconsciously stroking his left leg. He hesitated before saying, “I still cannot walk on it, but it feels much better. You do not need to prepare a wheelchair; just prepare a pair of crutches for me. Perhaps after resting in bed for a few more days, I will be able to get out of bed with them.”

“That is good.” Lin Ruoxuan felt relieved and reached out to touch the boy’s hair. The thick, silky strands threaded through his fingers with the cool, heavy texture of fine silk. As he stroked the hair, he felt a flicker of worry. “Today’s incident caused quite a stir. I wonder if the Emperor will…”

Ji Ruxue interrupted him flatly, “Father will not care.”

Lin Ruoxuan felt a surge of pity. “Right, you have been wanting to hear the story of the Battle of Changping, haven’t you? We have not had time before. It is late now, so I will stay the night and tell you about this campaign. How does that sound?”

“Really? That would be wonderful!” Ji Ruxue was clearly delighted.

The room had gone completely dark. Lin Ruoxuan lit a candle and placed it by the bedside. Once again, the two leaned side by side on the bed, flipping through the handwritten Art of War manuscript, one explaining while the other listened.

“The case I want to discuss today is the Battle of Changping. This campaign can be analyzed using the Art of War.”

Ji Ruxue was completely absorbed, occasionally asking questions that cut straight to the core of the strategy.

“In the end, the State of Qin took forty thousand Zhao captives and achieved a total victory.” Lin Ruoxuan paused there, not continuing immediately. He turned his head slightly to look at Ji Ruxue.

Seeing that tender, snow-white face and those clear, crystalline eyes, Lin Ruoxuan suddenly recalled the cruel antagonist from the original book and could not help but ask, “Your Highness, if you were in this situation, how would you handle these forty thousand captives?”

Ji Ruxue was savoring the brilliance of the campaign. Hearing the question, he was momentarily stunned, the answer to bury them alive nearly slipping out.

If it were a few thousand, it might be manageable, but forty thousand was simply too many. Concentrating them would invite mutiny; dispersing them would be too taxing. The easiest solution was to bury them all.

Ji Ruxue thought coldly, yet for some reason, the words did not leave his lips. After spending these days together, he realized that Lin Ruoxuan valued life deeply. He could not answer that way.

“Your Highness?” Lin Ruoxuan asked curiously.

Ji Ruxue collected his thoughts. “If it were me, I would confiscate their weapons and armor, then disperse them to different regions to farm and prevent mutiny.”

Lin Ruoxuan watched him steadily. “Your Highness would disperse these forty thousand captives to farm? Are there any other ways to handle them?”

Ji Ruxue blinked, hesitating. “Are you suggesting, Superintendent, that I take them as my own forces? But forty thousand is too many. It would be dangerous to incorporate them; it could easily trigger a mutiny.”

Lin Ruoxuan observed the boy’s eyes. They were clear and bright, filled only with slight confusion, as if he did not understand why Lin Ruoxuan kept pressing the issue.

In The Secret History of the Forbidden City, when Ji Ruxue first ascended the throne, Xiao Tunan had captured 150,000 enemy troops and sent an urgent report asking for instructions. Ji Ruxue’s secret reply was two words: Bury them. Xiao Tunan had hesitated for three days and three nights before ultimately disobeying the order and dispersing the captives to farm instead. Shortly after, Ji Ruxue summoned Xiao Tunan back to the capital, with that incident being a primary cause, as no monarch could tolerate a general holding such military power and defying orders.

“Superintendent Lin, what is wrong? Did I say something incorrect?” Ji Ruxue asked softly.

Lin Ruoxuan came back to his senses. Looking at Ji Ruxue’s bewildered expression, he felt a wave of doubt. Had Ji Ruxue changed after these days together? Was he growing in a different direction? Or was he merely pretending?

However, looking at those clear eyes and recalling the boy risking his life to save him from the mastiff, Lin Ruoxuan’s resolve wavered. Perhaps, through his efforts, this tragic child was truly growing into a different person.

This should have been a good thing, yet Lin Ruoxuan felt a complicated knot in his chest. Tolerance and benevolence were noble, but they left one vulnerable to harm. Then again, Ji Ruxue was so clever; perhaps he could become a shrewd, capable, yet benevolent Emperor without sacrificing himself.

More than half a month passed.

Unexpectedly, things remained calm. Emperor Chengwu did not summon him, and the Crown Prince did not continue to cause trouble, but another matter began to trouble Lin Ruoxuan.

He crouched on the ground, poking the stiffened carcass of the horse, looking dejected. “Your Highness, why did you give me such a job? I only know how to heal people, not horses.”

Ji Ruxue stood nearby with his crutches, looking slightly embarrassed. “You said we needed to maintain good relations with Xue Jin and Zhong Huaixiu, so I…”

Lin Ruoxuan sighed deeply. “It is already dead! How am I supposed to answer to Xue Jin?”

Ji Ruxue comforted him. “It does not matter. Commander Xue also said to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.”

Lin Ruoxuan had no other choice but to stand up. “Forget it. Let us put it in the ice cellar for now. Tell Xue Jin to come pick it up in a couple of days. The weather is warming up; we cannot leave it outside.”

“Mm, that is fine.”

As the two were talking, a fat eunuch hurried over. “Superintendent Lin! I finally found you!”

Lin Ruoxuan was confused. “What is it? Is there an emergency?”

The fat eunuch said urgently, “The Emperor has issued a decree! You are to report to the Cining Palace immediately!”

“Cining Palace?” Lin Ruoxuan paused.

Emperor Chengwu was always busy seeking immortality and worshipping Buddha; he barely even held morning court. He had ignored the entire incident with the mad dog, so why would he summon him now that things were peaceful? And the Cining Palace was the Empress Dowager’s residence. Why would he be called there?

Unable to fathom the reason, he said, “Understood. I will head over immediately.”

Ji Ruxue frowned. “I will go with you.”

“Very well.” Lin Ruoxuan did not delay. He called for a sedan chair, helped Ji Ruxue onto it, and they hurried to the Cining Palace.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the heavy scent of medicine. Lin Ruoxuan paused, a vague realization dawning on him.

A young maid led them into the outer chamber of the Empress Dowager’s bedroom. Emperor Chengwu, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince were all there. Also present were a gorgeous, charming woman and a submissive-looking woman. Several imperial physicians stood to the side, their brows furrowed in worry.

Lin Ruoxuan took one look and guessed correctly: the charming woman was surely the mother of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, Noble Consort Li, while the submissive one was the mother of the Second Prince, Consort Xian.

With such a grand assembly, the situation seemed dire. Lin Ruoxuan muttered to himself as he knelt to offer his respects. “This servant greets the Emperor and the Consorts.”

Ji Ruxue set aside his crutches and knelt with difficulty. “Your son greets Father Emperor and the two Consorts.”

“Rise,” Emperor Chengwu waved a hand. “Superintendent Lin, Noble Consort Li tells me that you are skilled in medicine? How is it that I did not know this?”

Lin Ruoxuan answered cautiously, “It is merely a trifling skill passed down from my ancestors; it is not worth mentioning.”

Emperor Chengwu raised an eyebrow. “Not worth mentioning? The Noble Consort tells me that when the Crown Prince’s Tibetan Mastiff went mad and bit a servant, who died days later, it also bit the Fourth Prince. Yet, my Fourth Prince remains alive and kicking.”

Ji Ruxue remained silent.

Lin Ruoxuan felt a cold sweat break out on his back. What was the Emperor implying? Was he blaming him for saving Ji Ruxue? Yet, no matter how much the Emperor loathed his own son, surely he would not wish him dead.

“Superintendent Lin?” Emperor Chengwu squinted.

Lin Ruoxuan bit the bullet. “It was merely a coincidence.”

Emperor Chengwu nodded, his tone mild. “The Fourth Prince has broken his leg and been bitten by a mad dog recently. You have taken care of him and must be very tired. Report to the imperial treasury tomorrow to receive a reward.”

What is the meaning of this?

Lin Ruoxuan was bewildered. Then, it suddenly hit him: Emperor Chengwu likely believed that Lin Ruoxuan was playing the part of a good person on the surface while secretly tormenting Ji Ruxue behind the scenes. After all, if the abuse of a prince were too obvious, the Emperor might be criticized by the censorate.

He breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his head. “Serving the Fourth Prince is my duty.”

“Your son is unfilial for causing Father Emperor worry,” Ji Ruxue kowtowed.

“Mm.” Emperor Chengwu nodded indifferently to Ji Ruxue and turned to Lin Ruoxuan. “Right, the reason I called you here today is to have you examine the Empress Dowager.”